Contractor had to flatten building and start again

CHILDREN with autism are waiting for special teaching units to open after a building blunder caused delays.

Two bases, each accommodating up to six pupils with special education needs, should have been up and running at Priestmead Middle School in Hartford Avenue, Kenton, and Aylward Primary School in Pangbourne Drive, Stanmore, by the end of October.

But as pupils return to school after the Christmas break, the base at Priestmead Middle School is not finished because council contractor Kier built it the wrong size and had to demolish it and start again.

The base at Aylward Primary School was completed by December 6, but is not operational because further time is needed to prepare children to move into the centre and to hire staff.

Opening the centres in time for the start of the school year in September had been deemed so important that it was made a 'corporate priority' by the Labour administration - one that has not been fulfilled.

Roger Rickman, divisional director for special needs services at the council, said: "A number of factors led to delays commencing work on site and unfortunately when work first started the new facilities under construction at Priestmead School were not being built to the dimensions agreed.

"This was an error on the part of our contractor, Kier, and the company agreed to demolish the work and rebuild it at no extra cost to Harrow Council or Priestmead School. This will mean an overall delay of about seven weeks."

Mr Rickman said negotiations are continuing between the council and Kier about compensation and the council hopes pupils will be able to start using the new facilities after the spring half-term.

A spokesman for Kier said: "We acknowledge and regret that there has been an issue with the construction element of the project at Priestmead School and are currently working hard to resolve the issue without further delay."

A spokeswoman from the National Autistic Society said: "Getting the right support at the right time is enormously important for children with autism.

"With many parents telling us that there is a desperate lack of appropriate educational provision in their local area, we welcome efforts to create new facilities."